The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-13
now DEMOCRATS MANAGE.
Synopsis of the Testimony Relative to
the Insane Hospital Trustees.
Damaging Admissions as to Their Contract
System and Partisan Appointments
Further Reference to Diseased Hogs

System and Partisan Appointments
Further Reference to Diseased Hogs.
The House committee on benevolent institu-
tons has been engaged since Thursday in ex-
aiming DR.. Thomas Fl. Harrison, B. FL. Bur-
rell and P. NJ. Gapen, trustees. particularly in
relation to the management of the Insane Hos
pital Their testimony brings the investigation
ND to date. As beginning, each admitted that
supplies were bought in large quantities for
which no bids had been asked. When bids
Sentinel and bids for supplies were asked
for each of these institutions rather than
for all together. Each bidder was re-
quired to bid on less quantities of some
articles and more Of others, but as
the supplies were bought on the requisition OF
the steward Dr. Harrison did not think there
was chance Of collision between that officer
and the merchant, who, on the notification of
the steward as to what was needed, could charge
less for articles in small quantities and higher
for those supplied largely. All of the trustees
admitted that they had individually bought hogs
for the hospital and that their purchases were
confined mostly to their own counties. Within
the last four years 1900 hogs had been bought
for the institution, and out of this
number. 300 died with disease This was
the statement of DR.. Harrison, who further said
that If any hogs were killed from drove
brought to the institution diseased meat might
be obtained. Mr.. Gapen said that he bought
hogssof Frank Landers aud a man John j.
Cooper's farm. He did not know if any Of them
oxtc- fo~< 49, lie
eased. He heard of hog cholera on the Cooper
farm and went out there to see about it. He
found that hog had fallen into barrel and
was killed. This gave rise to the cholera rumor.
Mr. Burrell said he bought no hogs without com
petition, although he had employed another
man to buy for him. The hogs he bought he re-
marked, Lived until they died.
It was in evidence that the records do not
slow attendance of members at the letting
of contracts. Two meetings of the trustees
were held monthly, one at the hospital and the
other at the Supreme Court rooms, to contract
for supplies. 1t was at their second meetings
that DR.. Harrison admitted that he was some
times the only person present, although directly
after the letting of contracts the boards for the
three institutions would meet He would not
say that Gapen had performed his duties. He
told Cover Gray about Gapen, but had
never informed the Attorney general.
Il do not think it nv duty" be remarked, s'to
the Doctor had voted regularly to allow Gapen
his salary, which was sometimes forwarded to
him in Arkansas. where, during the last year
and half. he has been most of the time manag
| ing saw mill property
DR.. Harrison thought he himself spent half of
his time in looking after the three institutions.
| He admitted he worked for the Brown bin, under
which the institutions are managed because he
| went further regarding the Brown bill,
as no improvement on the old
| system. except in giving him a place. TIE In
sane Hospital is run on partisan basis, he said.
but all nominations were left TO the superintend
| ent, DIR. Fletcher. 1t is observable by those
| connected with the investigation that the trus-
| tees endeavoring to make DIR. Fletcher re-
| sponsible for all that has been charged against
the management of the HOSPITAL. Dr. Harrison,
| continuing, said the board OF trustees had not
within the last two years refused to confirm an
| appointment by the superintendent. EXCEPT in
rare instance. He admitted that he would vote
| to reject Republican appointee, and gave it as
his opinion that the average term OF service of
employees up to September, 1886, was about
| two years and half. Ee had
never known of case where campaign funds
/ were collected in the hospital, but did know of
/ the steward Hall) collecting funds for this pur-
| pose, the most of which was sent 20 Boone
| county. where DR.. Harrison lives. ''The trus-
! tees" said the Doctor, appointed Hall to the
! responsible position of steward of the hospital
| because they wanted to do So" Hall was a
| school-teacher and an educated man. but DR..
Harrison thought be had no especial quaifca-
tons for the Office of steward, who is required
to inspect and decide on the quality or $40. 900
worth of supplies OF many varieties every month.
DIR Harrison did not think required any special
fitness to do this, although he admitted Hall was
| not the best man for the place He had intended
to have Hall appointed as superintendent of the
Institute for the Blind but the other trustees
would not vote for him. 1t was probable that
Hall. whom he Endorsed in the highest terms,
had been promised place for his work on the
Brown bill Many employees begin service in the
institutions without knowledge Of what is to
be required of them
The exact number of employees at tho hospital
| or those he recommended to Superintendent
Fletcher he could not tell He remembered
recommending man named Mclean, but he
was not appointed, because DR.. Fletcher said
s'the stalls are full" Not one of the trustees
could tell what they paid VIM. FL. English for
the rent of tract of land near the hospital
not know the number sof acres it con-
tanned, although they allowed the bills
on the rent of it. In other features Of the evil
dence thus far taken, it appears that DR.. r. H.
Tarleton. former trustee, was on. unfriendly
terms with Hall. who succeeded Captain STRAINS
bury after his resignation as steward; that con.
tractors who had failed to fulfill their contracts
were never sued on their bonds, and that DIR.
Harrison thought putting man and wife in
charge OF wards was an improvements, although
| he could not say whether tine superintendent OF
the truetees conceived the idea
MIR. Gapen admitted receiving the check fol-
the Mellen rebate which he had cashed He
handed the money, he said. to Dr. Fletcher BY
direction OF the board telling him what it was
and yet the board made record OF the trans
| action Gapen was treasurer two years. and il
his absence Mr.. Burrell acted as such officer
The investigation will be resumed Monday
! morning at 8 o'clock. The Senate special com
mittee to investigate the institutions consists O.
l Pail Is